Public Statements

Randy's Roundup: Balancing the Budget to Grow our Economy

Statement

This week, I'll be voting to support the House Republican plan to balance our federal budget in ten years. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and the members of his committee have created a plan to rein in government spending, ensure a secure retirement for our seniors, and preserve opportunities for all Americans.

Not only is this plan the most responsible way forward, but it's the only effort being made in Washington to balance the budget.

Although the President was required to send a budget to Congress nearly two months ago, we have yet to see it. However, we do know that it won't balance, since he told House Republicans in a private meeting last week that addressing our deficits and balancing the budget weren't his priorities. The Senate budget has more taxes, more spending, and no attempt to achieve balance. It calls for $1 trillion in new tax revenues and increases spending, adding $4 trillion more to the national debt.

The House Republican budget prioritizes economic growth, job creation, and reform. So, this week, I'll be voting to cut wasteful spending, fix our broken, overly complicated tax code, protect programs for seniors, and create jobs. Balancing our budget should have a real effect on you--it will allow for the creation of 5 million more jobs and increase median income to more than $80,000 a year. I encourage you to learn more about the budget at www.budget.house.gov, and by contacting my office with any questions.

PRO-LIFE Act

Did you know that school districts in California, Oregon, New Jersey, and New York are partnering with abortion providers to provide health services to students? Planned Parenthood, the country's largest abortion provider, is contracting with school districts to set up student health centers in public schools across the country.

I want to ensure that these health centers aren't recommending abortions to young women, or referring them to nearby Planned Parenthood centers.

So last week I introduced the Protecting Life in Funding Education (PRO-LIFE) Act to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used at schools that allow for abortion advocacy in their health centers. The PRO-LIFE Act restricts funding to school districts that contract with third party "school-based health centers" unless they certify they won't perform abortions and they won't provide abortion referrals or materials to students.

Our school health centers should be a place of healing and education for young people. They shouldn't be used as a tool to advocate for abortion, and certainly not with taxpayer dollars. You can read my editorial on this issue in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal here to learn more.

Interested in Attending a Military Academy?

In the coming days, my office will be hosting forums in Lubbock and Abilene for high school students who are interested in attending one of the four U.S. service academies. To be accepted into one of these elite institutions, you need a Congressional recommendation. Providing that recommendation is one of the best parts of my job, and I'm looking forward to meeting all the young men and women who are considering pursuing this officer training.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy not only provide an excellent education, but also the military discipline, tactical training, and leadership development that make U.S. armed forces officers the pride of our nation.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the application process or what it is like to attend a service academy, please visit one of our forums:

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Whistler in my Lubbock office at (806) 763-1611. You can also download an application here. I look forward to seeing you there.

Action Item:This week, students, faculty, and administrators from Texas Tech will be visiting Washington to talk about issues facing higher education today. I'm looking forward to talking to some Red Raiders about the latest news from Tech.